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Friday, 19 March 2010

Earls eyes O'Driscoll role

Keith Earls of Ireland celebrates as he scores their second try during the RBS Six Nations match between England and Ireland

Keith Earls believes he is shedding his utility tag as he plots his route to becoming Ireland's long-term successor to Brian O'Driscoll at outside centre.

Earls is the RBS 6 Nations' top try-scorer with three and will be Scotland's main concern when the wooden spoon contenders arrive in Dublin on Saturday.

The 22-year-old Munster back, whose strike rate stands at six tries in nine matches, has played at full-back, winger and outside centre.

On Saturday he will once again fill the number 11 jersey from where he has caused so much damage this championship, but Earls hopes to eventually move up the threequarter line.

"I'm enjoying playing in the wing but I also liked playing at 13 with Munster before I joined up with Ireland," he said.

"The full-back thing has slipped away. Hopefully in the future I'll be 13.

"I was a bit concerned by my versatility a few months back - I don't want the number 22 jersey.

"Luke Fitzgerald's injury gave me a chance on the left wing, while if Gordon D'Arcy or Brian O'Driscoll go off for Ireland, I can slot in at 13."

Earls explains his emergence as a ruthless finisher at Test level by his growing comfort within the squad, leading to his stellar display in Saturday's 27-12 victory over Wales.

"I'm happy with my strike rate. It's over 50% which is great," he said.

"I feel like I've settled in now. I'm that bit more confident around the squad.

"It's good to be playing well and to be a regular this season. I'm more relaxed and there's a good buzz in training.

"I really enjoyed the Wales match. It was a great game to be involved in, especially after last year when it was a Grand Slam decider.

"There's a big rivalry between us so to get two tries and beat them the way we did was great.

"It was definitely my best game for Ireland. It was a big game in a major tournament so it was good to get on the scoreboard."

Ireland will claim their fifth Triple Crown in seven years if they beat the Scots.

Teams for Ireland v Scotland, Croke Park, Saturday, 5pm.

Ireland: G Murphy (Leicester); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D'Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster); J Sexton (Leinster); T O'Leary (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster).

Replacements: S Cronin (Connacht), T Buckley (Munster), L Cullen (Leinster), S Jennings (Leinster), E Reddan (Leinster), R O'Gara (Munster), R Kearney (Leinster).

Scotland: H Southwell (Stade Francais); S Lamont (Scarlets), N De Luca (Edinburgh), G Morrison (Glasgow), M Evans (Glasgow); D Parks (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Glasgow, capt); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), J Hamilton (Edinburgh), A Kellock (Glasgow), K Brown (Glasgow), J Barclay (Glasgow), J Beattie (Glasgow).

Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), A Dickinson (Gloucester), R Gray (Glasgow), A MacDonald (Edinburgh), M Blair (Edinburgh), P Godman (Edinburgh), S Danielli (Ulster).

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa).
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa) and Jerome Garces (France).